Process of and apparatus for converting heavy into lighter hydrocarbons



:May 19,. 1931. c. P. DUBBS' V PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTINGHEAVY INTO LIGHTER HYDROCARBONS Original Filed 55c. 12, 1918 3Sheets-Sheet 1 c. P. DUBBS May 19, 1931.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING HEAVY INTO LIGHTER HYDROGARBONS3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 19, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECARBON 1P. DUBBS, OF WILMETTE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNIVERSAL OILPRODUCTS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTAPROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING HEAVY INTO LIGHTER HYDROCARIBONSContinuation of application Serial No'.'266,897, filed December 12,1918. This application filed Kay 2, 1823,

- Serial No. 636,103. Renewed May 28, 1928.

This application is a continuation of an earlier application filed-b me,under date of December 12, 1918, Serial 0. 266,397.

' This invention relates to improvements in converting heavy intolighter hydrocarbons and refers more particularly to a continuousprocess in which the oil is fed through a heatin zone into a vapor zone,the vapors taken otl and the heavier ones condensed and returned to theheating zone. In this connection, one of the objects of the invention isto provide a process in which gas pockets are prevented from formin inthe heating zone and in general to provi e an improved process of thecharacter referred to.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an endv elevation of the same.

29 Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in a furnace construction 1, aremounted two sets of coils 2 and 3, the coil 2 beingthe heating coil andin the heating zone, and the coil 3 forming the vapor chamber or inother words, being in the vapor zone. The oil is delivered by means ofdelivery pipe 4 to the heating coil 2 and entering the pipe as shown at5. The oil passes through the heating coil and m then out throughconnecting pipe 8 to the vapor coil 3. The unconverted residue is drawnoff from the larger coil by means of line 7 to a residuum tank. Thisline 7 is controlled by valve 8. The vapors pass up from the ends of thecoil 3 through risers 9 and 10 which are connected to the respectiveends of the coils through manifolds 11 and 12.

The upper ends of the risers are connected by horizontal pipes 13 and14: to downwardly inclined pipes 15,16, 17 and 18. The delivery end ofthese pipes 15, 16, 1.7 and 18 are connected to a tank 19 and arecontrolled by valves 20. The tank 19 is connected at its upper side withipes 21 forming an aerial condenser 2111, w ich in turn is connected toa water condenser through pipe 22. The water condenser (not shown) hasits outlet side equipped with a throttle valve for maintaining a no]:pressure of the va. rs on the entire sytsem but inasmuch as-t e idea ofhaving a valve on the outlet side of the condenser to control thepressure on both the still and the condenser is well known in the art,it need not be here shown or described.

The heavy vapors which condense and collect in tank 19 are returned tothe heatin zone for re-treatment through pipe 23 an in which isinterposed. a pump 23a. The pipe 23 is connected to the inlet coil asshown at 236. Gas is supplied to the burners by means of line 24 andranch lines 25.

The oil is subjected to treatment at a temperature in excess of 500degs. F.,in the heating zone and a pressure of pounds or more ispreferably maintained in the entire system.

As an important feature of the invention, the process is so operated asto prevent pocketmg of gas in the heating zone. To this end, in the line6 is interposed a pressure valve 26 which is set to open at apredetermined pressure which is slightl less than the ope-ratingpressure used. If the pressure in the vapor lines falls, vapor cannotback up into the heating zone. In this way, vapor is prevented fromreturning from the vapor chamber or zone to the heating zone.

I claim as my invention:

1. A continuous process for cracking hydrocarbon oil, consisting inpassin the oil in a confined stream through a heatmg zone 80 whereintheoil is subjected to a conversion temperature, in discharging the heatedoil into an elongated vaporizing zone, in dis charging vaporsprogressively from said vaporizing zone as the oil passes therethrough,in com ining) the p 'vely withdrawn vapors, in su jecting them to adephlegmating action, in returning the reflux condensate under amechanical pressure to the heating zone for re-treatment, incontinuously withdrawing unvaporized residual oil from said vaporizingzone to be isolated from. the systern, in normally maintaining a uniformregnlated superatmospheric pressure on the 011 throughout the processand in maintaining constant the pressure on the oil in the heating zonein the event of a temporary d i in pressure on the oil in the remainingzones of the process.

2. An apparatus for cracki g ydrocarbon oil, com rising an elongatedheatin coil disposed wlthin a furnace, an elongate horizontally disposedvaporizing zone, a communication from said heating coil to saidvaporizing 5 zone, means for wit drawing vapors from said vaporizingzone at points progressivelyarranged from the li uid inlet to said zoneto the li uid'outlet t roof, means for dephl egmatlng the vaporswithdrawn from said.

' 1 vaporizing zone, means for returni the reflux condensate resultingfrom said ephlegmation of the vapors to the heating c011,

means for condensing the depinfllggmated vafore, means for collectingthe ting distil- 1; ate, means for normally maintaining a umformsuperatmospheric pressure throughout the apparatus, and means positionedin the communication from said heating coil to said elongated vaporizingzone for preventing a 20 decrease in pressure occurring in thevaporizing zone from being communicated to the heating coil, and meansfor withdrawing unvaporized oil from the liquid outlet of saidvaporizing zone to be isolated from the sys a tem, I

: CARBON P. DUBBS.

